Red Bull Car Park Drift returns to Riyadh with Red Bull Mobile

Riyadh will host the national competition of Red Bull Car Park Drift on Nov. 16, 2024, at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex (Green Halls). (Supplied)

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Updated 30 sec ago

Arab News

November 06, 2024 18:28

Red Bull Car Park Drift returns to Riyadh with Red Bull Mobile

The championship returns with Red Bull Mobile as the event’s connectivity partner
A panel of expert motorsport judges will evaluate each competitor, awarding points based on specific technical criteria

Updated 30 sec ago

Arab News

November 06, 2024 18:28

RIYADH: Riyadh will host the national competition of Red Bull Car Park Drift on Nov. 16, 2024, at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex (Green Halls).
The championship, which first held its world finals in Jeddah in December 2022, returns with Red Bull Mobile as the event’s connectivity partner, providing unique services to enhance the fan experience.
In partnership with the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation and Nissan, 22 skilled drivers will compete to claim the title of Saudi champion and secure a spot in the Red Bull Car Park Drift World Finals in Oman on Dec. 6.
Fans can enjoy the event and all the shows for free, with doors opening at 2 p.m. on Nov. 16, according to a media statement issued on Wednesday.
Red Bull Car Park Drift uniquely blends car speed, engine power, driving precision, and drifting artistry, set against a backdrop of special effects and dynamic show elements.
A panel of expert motorsport judges will evaluate each competitor, awarding points based on specific technical criteria.
Lebanese drift icon and rally star Abdo Feghali will return to elevate the competition with new twists on the track layout, ensuring an even higher level of challenge.
Alongside the thrilling main event, fans will get a behind-the-scenes track tour with Feghali, while they cheer on top drivers in Saudi Arabia.
Red Bull Car Park Drift is a competitive drifting event where both amateur and professional drivers tackle a track full of obstacles and challenges. Competitors aim to score high in each round to move forward in an elimination-style format.
Judges evaluate performances based on skills like drifting ability, car smoke, and overall appearance, awarding up to 400 points.
Red Bull Car Park Drift also gives amateur drivers the chance to compete internationally, showcasing their skills in front of thousands of motorsport fans.

Mideast’s first baseball league announces completion of Dubai ballpark

Updated 6 sec ago

Arab News

November 06, 2024 18:06

Mideast’s first baseball league announces completion of Dubai ballpark

Baseball United Ballpark at The Sevens will be unveiled with the Arab Classic International Baseball Tournament running Nov. 7-10

Updated 6 sec ago

Arab News

November 06, 2024 18:06

DUBAI: The Middle East’s first professional baseball league has completed the construction of a Dubai ballpark in just 38 days.

The Baseball United Ballpark is the first baseball ground in the region. It will debut to the public beginning this week with the Arab Classic Tournament, which will see nine nations from the GCC and South Asia take part in the largest international baseball tournament in the region’s history.

Baseball United Chairman and CEO Kash Shaikh shared the news of the ballpark — as well as several other record-setting milestones — at a press conference held in partnership with Dubai Sports Council and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.

Prominent figures attended, including Baseball United co-owners and Major League Baseball legends Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera, Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus. Government officials from the UAE, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic were also present.

“We have come a long way in a short time,” said Shaikh. “In just two short years — fueled by the belief and support of the Dubai government, regional baseball federations, baseball legends, baseball fans around the world, and the will and resilience of our own Baseball United team — we’ve all made history. And we’ve made that history over and over again. I say that with no exaggeration or hyperbole, because everything we are doing together has truly never been done before.

“Together, we’ve transported a completely new sport to a completely new part of the world, and we’ve built another bridge to connect people to Dubai as one of the world’s greatest sports and entertainment destinations.”

Baseball United’s historic milestones include:

- The expansion of its ownership to 20 baseball legends. In addition to Larkin, Rivera, Beltre and Andrus, top players such as Albert Pujols, Felix Hernandez, Robinson Cano, Robinson Chirinos, Ryan Howard, Bartolo Colon and Ronald Acuua Jr. are part of the investment group. These players have more than 300 years of combined professional baseball experience, 80 MLB All-Star appearances and 15 World Series Championships titles.

- The launch of Baseball United’s official merchandise line in Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and The Galleria Mall (Abu Dhabi) in partnership with GO Sport. Official baseball jerseys will be available for sale for the first time, including the jerseys of all four inaugural Baseball United franchises: Mumbai Cobras, Karachi Monarchs, Mid East Falcons and the Dubai-based Arabia Wolves.

- The formation of the first-ever UAE National Baseball Team in partnership with Emirates Cricket Board. The new UAE team will play its first-ever match at 1 p.m. GST on Thursday against India. It will also face off against Pakistan at 8 p.m. GST the same day.

- The completion of the first-ever professional baseball field in the history of the region. Baseball United Ballpark, with field dimensions mirrored after the iconic Yankee Stadium, is the only professional field within 10,000 km of Dubai. The field will be home to all Baseball United events, tournaments and its upcoming league season, as well as serve as a launchpad for international events with top baseball teams from around the world.

- The opening of the Arab Classic International Baseball Tournament from Nov. 7-10 at Baseball United Ballpark at The Sevens. Nine nations from the GCC and South Asia will take part in the largest and most competitive international baseball tournament in the history of the region with four consecutive days of baseball at the new Baseball United Ballpark. Twenty-one games will be played in morning and evening sessions, with the championship held on Nov. 10. Evening games will be streamed for free at baseballunited.com.

Tickets for all sessions are available via Platinumlist. Ticket prices begin at AED49 ($13).

“We are so excited that — for the first time in history — all these national baseball teams from the subcontinent and the GCC will finally have a stage to showcase their passion, their talent and their development,” said Shaikh. “Growing the game at the grassroots and national team levels is so important to our mission at Baseball United. We know that this is where and how we build the foundation of this sport in the region. We transformed an empty oval of dirt and dust into a world-class baseball field in just 38 days so that these national teams and their players would be the first to play at our new ballpark.

“Our new field will enable so many other opportunities like this one for so many countries, communities and athletes,” he added. “It is truly a game-changer for Dubai and the region. We can’t wait to host everyone at the ballpark.”

Benjamin Mendy wins most of $14m unpaid wages case against Manchester City

Updated 06 November 2024

Reuters

November 06, 2024 16:29

Benjamin Mendy wins most of $14m unpaid wages case against Manchester City

The France international filed a claim against Manchester City last year
The 30-year-old argued City unlawfully deducted wages that he was due under his contract

Updated 06 November 2024

Reuters

November 06, 2024 16:29

LONDON: Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy won a case against the club on Wednesday for most of over 11 million pounds ($14 million) in wages withheld after he was charged with sexual offenses, of which he was later cleared.
The France international filed a claim against Manchester City last year. The Premier League club stopped paying him in September 2021, shortly after he was charged with sexual offenses, until the end of his contract in June 2023.
Mendy was acquitted of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in January 2023, following a trial at Chester Crown Court. He was found not guilty of one count of rape and one of attempted rape after a retrial.
The 30-year-old argued City unlawfully deducted wages that he was due under his contract, saying in a witness statement that he had been promised he would be paid after he was cleared.
City’s lawyers, however, said Mendy was not paid because he was not able to perform his duties as he was held in custody before his trial for breaching his bail conditions.
“Mr Mendy is entitled to recover some, but not all, of the sums claimed,” Judge Joanne Dunlop said in a written ruling on Wednesday.
Manchester City did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mendy said in a statement posted on X: “Having had to wait for three years for my wages, I am delighted with the decision and sincerely hope that the club will now do the honorable thing and pay the outstanding amounts, as well as the other amounts promised to me under the contract, without further delay, so I can finally put this difficult part of my life behind me.”
Dunlop said in her ruling that Manchester City was entitled to withhold Mendy’s pay for two periods he spent in custody, covering about five months of the 22-month period of his claim.
When Mendy was not in custody, Dunlop found, he was “ready and willing to work” and prevented from doing so by his suspension by the Football Association and bail conditions “which were unavoidable or involuntary on his part.”
Mendy joined City from AS Monaco in 2017 for a fee of around 52 million pounds, on an annual salary of 6 million pounds.
He signed for French club Lorient, currently in Ligue 2, shortly after his retrial.

Topics: Manchester city Benjamin Mendy

McIlroy looks to clinch Race to Dubai title with new swing after 3 weeks shut away in a studio

Updated 06 November 2024

November 06, 2024 11:05

McIlroy looks to clinch Race to Dubai title with new swing after 3 weeks shut away in a studio

The No. 3-ranked McIlroy said he has been locked in a studio for three weeks just hitting balls at a screen with a modified swing

Updated 06 November 2024

November 06, 2024 11:05

ABU DHABI: Rory McIlroy can finish a season as the European tour’s top player for the sixth time with a win at the Abu Dhabi Championship this week.
He’ll attempt to do so with a new swing.
The No. 3-ranked McIlroy said he has been hunkered down in a studio — first in Florida, then in New York — for three weeks, just hitting balls at a screen with a modified swing and not even looking at the flight of his shots.
He hasn’t liked the shape of his swing for a while, he said Wednesday, and wanted a more robust one that could hold up in the most pressure-filled moments following a number of missed chances this season. The most notable was at the US Open in June, where he missed two putts in the 3-foot range in the final three holes on Sunday to pave the way for a victory for Bryson DeChambeau and extend McIlroy’s decade without a major title.
“The only way I was going to make a change, or at least move in the right direction, with my swing was to lock myself in a studio and not see the ball flight for a bit and just focus entirely on the movement,” McIlroy said.
“It’s something, he added, “just to make my golf swing more efficient, and then if it is more efficient, then it means it’s not going to break down as much under pressure. If I look at my year, the one thing that I would criticize myself on is the fact that I’ve had these chances to win.”
McIlroy has won twice this year — at the Dubai Desert Classic and the Wells Fargo Championship — and has had four second-place finishes, including recently at the Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship on the European tour.
That has left the Northern Irishman frustrated but well clear in the Race to Dubai rankings that determine the best player of the year on the European tour. A win in Abu Dhabi can seal the title and remove some suspense — at least for McIlroy — from the final event of the season, at the World Tour Championship in nearby Dubai next week.
“If I go out and win this week, obviously you know, it makes it a bit boring next week,” the four-time major champion said. “But I won’t find it boring. It will be lovely.”
A sixth Race to Dubai title — it used to be called the Order of Merit — would put McIlroy level with the late Seve Ballesteros on the all-time list and only two behind Colin Montgomerie, who has a record eight.
“I’m a European player,” McIlroy said. “I would like to go down as the most successful European of all time. Obviously Race to Dubai wins would count to that but also major championships and hopefully I’ve got a few more Ryder Cups ahead of me as well.
“So that’s something that I would like to (do). I think (it) is a goal that’s quite attainable over the next 10 years.”

Topics: golf Abu Dhabi

Over 40 drivers set for groundbreaking Formula E pre-season testing

Updated 06 November 2024

Arab News

November 06, 2024 14:13

Over 40 drivers set for groundbreaking Formula E pre-season testing

Flash floods in Valencia mean the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s session has been moved to the Circuito del Jarama in Madrid
The test will also see the first all-female test session in an FIA Championship, featuring drivers in the new GEN3 Evo car

Updated 06 November 2024

Arab News

November 06, 2024 14:13

LONDON: As the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship gears up for the start of the new season in Sao Paulo next month, pre-season testing takes place in Spain this week.

Eleven teams will hit the track as they fine-tune their preparations over the four days, from Nov. 5-8. There will also be a historic milestone, with the first all-female test session in an FIA Championship.

Following the devastating flash floods affecting Valencia, the test session has been moved to the Circuito del Jaramo in Madrid following consultation between Formula E, the FIA, local authorities and Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

While Valencia has been integral to Formula E since 2017, the decision was made to avoid diverting resources from local relief efforts. Formula E has confirmed its commitment to supporting the recovery of the Valencia community.

Formula E Chief Championship Officer Alberto Longo said: “We are incredibly thankful to be able to kick off our pre-season testing in Madrid, a move made possible by the dedicated efforts of the Circuito de Jarama team. Our thoughts are still with the Valencia community as we prepare to hit the track, as a place so close to our hearts.

“This season marks a significant milestone as we unveil the GEN3 Evo, showcasing its incredible acceleration speeds for the first time. Additionally, we are proud to make history with the inaugural women’s test — a first for an FIA Championship — reflecting our commitment to diversity and inclusion in motorsport. There’s so much to be excited about as we gear up for the new season, which starts next month in Sao Paulo. Season 11 of Formula E, vamos!”

The first FIA all-female test session is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 8. Each team in the championship is required to field at least one female driver for the half-day session.

The GEN3 Evo means the teams and drivers need to master another new car. There have also been grid additions and a flurry of driver changes.

Maximilian Gunther has joined DS PENSKE, partnering two-time Formula E champion Jean-Eric Vergne, after departing Maserati MSG Racing. Though both teams use the Stellantis powertrain, this move marks a fresh chapter for Gunther, who has been in the championship since Season 5. Meanwhile, Stoffel Vandoorne has left DS PENSKE to join Maserati MSG Racing, where he will team up with newcomer Jake Hughes, transitioning to the GEN3 Evo era from NEOM McLaren.

Some teams have opted for stability, retaining their existing driver line-ups from last season. Envision Racing will continue with Robin Frijns and Season 2 champion Sebastien Buemi, while TAG Heuer Porsche remains committed to defending World Champion Pascal Wehrlein and his teammate Antonio Felix da Costa.

Mahindra Racing will keep Edoardo Mortara and Nyck de Vries and Jaguar TCS Racing’s duo, Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy, will return after securing the teams’ title at the Season 10 finale in London.

Andretti has seen a reshuffle, with Season 9 champion Jake Dennis now partnered with Nico Muller, who also became a Porsche works driver during the break. Norman Nato returns to Nissan, reuniting with Oliver Rowland after a year at Andretti.

The season also brings some exciting new faces — rookie Zane Maloney joins Lola Yamaha ABT in their inaugural Formula E season, pairing with Season 3 champion Lucas di Grassi.

NEOM McLaren welcomes back Taylor Barnard, who filled in last season and who embarks on his first full campaign alongside series veteran Sam Bird.

Newly rebranded Kiro Race Co. is the only team yet to confirm its driver line-up, with an announcement expected soon.

Topics: Formula E

Indian cricket’s mega league auction heads to Saudi Arabia

Updated 06 November 2024

Rashid Hassan

November 06, 2024 13:29

Indian cricket’s mega league auction heads to Saudi Arabia

Jeddah to host TATA IPL 2025 player auction, the first such event in the Kingdom

Updated 06 November 2024

Rashid Hassan

November 06, 2024 13:29

RIYADH: The TATA IPL 2025 mega auction will be held in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Nov. 24 and 25, 2024.

Unlike regular auctions, the mega auction, which takes place every three years, is spread over two days instead of one and is one of the most followed events in cricket, as the 10 IPL franchises build their squads for the next three years (2025-2027).

Following the big announcement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation said on Wednesday: “The SACF, within the events in Jeddah calendar, are thrilled to announce that Jeddah has been selected by the BCCI to host the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Player Auction on November 24th and 25th, 2024 making it the first-ever international cricket event of this stature to be held in Saudi Arabia.”

The TATA IPL, widely recognised as the world’s most prestigious T20 cricket league, has registered 1,574 players from around the world for the 2025 player auction — 320 capped players, 1,224 uncapped players, and 30 players from associate nations. With only 204 slots available, teams will engage in competitive bidding wars to secure top talent, promising a thrilling experience for cricket fans worldwide.

“We are very pleased to host this prestigious event, which confirms the depth of our relationship with the BCCI and its honorary secretary, Jay Shah. In addition to the Kingdom’s commitment to developing the sport and showcasing its position as a global destination for sporting events,” said Prince Saud bin Mishal, chairman of the SACF.

“This prestigious event is a testament to our dedication to develop the sport in the Kingdom, and we look forward to celebrating this remarkable moment with cricket fans across the Kingdom,” Prince Saud added.

— الاتحاد السعودي للكريكيت | Saudi Cricket (@cricketsaudi) November 5, 2024

Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the IPL 2025 Player Auction not only highlights its potential as a cricketing destination but also signals a new era of cultural exchange and sporting excellence in the region.

Cricket fans in Saudi Arabia will have a unique opportunity to witness the creation of the TATA IPL 2025 teams and be part of a popular global event, the federation said.

Commenting on the mega auction heading to the Kingdom, India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan said: “It is a matter of great pride and excitement for us to witness the TATA IPL 2025 Players Auction being held in Saudi Arabia, a historic first that underscores the deepening ties between India and Saudi Arabia. This event reflects the growing cultural and sports exchanges between our two nations, symbolizing a new era of shared aspirations and people-to-people connectivity.”

Bringing the auction to Jeddah not only highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a global sports and entertainment destination, but will also serve as catalyst for popularizing and developing cricket in the Kingdom, the ambassador said.

“Congratulations and best wishes to all those involved in making this momentous occasion possible,” Khan said.

There were 1,165 Indian and 409 overseas players registered for the auction, which will be held at the Abady Al Johar Arena (also known as Benchmark Arena), by the Nov. 4 deadline, the BCCI said.

Players are from countries including Italy, Canada, Netherlands, Scotland, the US and the UAE, apart from the full member nations excluding Pakistan.

Each franchise can build a squad of up to 25 players, which means that there are 204 slots available at the auction after the retention.

On Oct. 31, the deadline for teams to finalise which of their players they were keeping from their 2024 squads, a total of 46 players were retained across the 10 franchises.

The IPL allowed teams to retain up to six players this time — of which a maximum of five can be capped and a maximum of two can be uncapped. The six players can either be retained outright ahead of the auction, or can be bought back using right-to-match options at the auction, or a combination of both.

The IPL auction is being held overseas for the second successive year — 2024 was in Dubai.

Topics: India Cricket Saudi Arabia

Red Bull Car Park Drift returns to Riyadh with Red Bull Mobile

Red Bull Car Park Drift returns to Riyadh with Red Bull Mobile

Egypt’s Hisham Al-Khatib crowned winner in Red Bull Car Park Drift World Final 2022

Saudi motorsport chiefs predict ‘best ever’ Red Bull Car Park Drift world final in Jeddah

Mideast’s first baseball league announces completion of Dubai ballpark

Mideast’s first baseball league announces completion of Dubai ballpark

Benjamin Mendy wins most of $14m unpaid wages case against Manchester City

Benjamin Mendy wins most of $14m unpaid wages case against Manchester City

Man City’s Mendy found not guilty on six counts of rape

Man City player Benjamin Mendy cleared of one count of rape

McIlroy looks to clinch Race to Dubai title with new swing after 3 weeks shut away in a studio

McIlroy looks to clinch Race to Dubai title with new swing after 3 weeks shut away in a studio

Sports marketeers take deep dive into Saudi culture

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Over 40 drivers set for groundbreaking Formula E pre-season testing

Over 40 drivers set for groundbreaking Formula E pre-season testing

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Indian cricket’s mega league auction heads to Saudi Arabia

Indian cricket’s mega league auction heads to Saudi Arabia

Indian cricket’s mega league auction heads to Saudi Arabia

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Red Bull Car Park Drift returns to Riyadh with Red Bull Mobile

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